We do not issue police clearance certificates, and we do not apply for them. The passport office PCC comes to you from Passport Seva, after your visit to a PSK or POPSK. Our work begins once you hold it.
What counts as a passport office PCC
The Ministry of External Affairs runs Passport Seva. Regional Passport Offices, Passport Seva Kendras and, since September 2022, every Post Office Passport Seva Kendra all handle PCCs. Whichever counter you visited, the certificate itself is issued by the Regional Passport Office for your area after police verification. That is why people also call it an RPO PCC or a PSK PCC. They mean the same document.
This is a different paper from a certificate issued by your local police station, the SP's office or a state police portal. Those are state documents and take a longer route, explained on our police station PCC page.
How to recognise it
Hold your certificate next to this list. A passport office PCC usually shows:
- Passport Office or Government of India heading, not a police department heading
- The signature and designation of a Passport Officer
- A file or reference number, and your passport number
- A statement that no adverse information has come up that would make you ineligible for a visa
- Often, the name of the country you said you were going to
If yours carries a police station seal, an SP or Commissioner's signature, or a QR code from a state police portal, it is a police-issued PCC. Not sure? Send a photo of the full page. We will tell you which type it is before you courier anything.
Why it usually goes straight to the MEA
For any document, the MEA checks the signature of an official it can verify. With a state document, a state department confirms the signature first. With a passport office PCC, the signing officer works for a Regional Passport Office, which is itself an MEA office. In common practice the MEA apostilles it directly, with no Notary, SDM or Home Department step.
Apostille countries
Direct MEA apostille
For countries such as Croatia, Portugal, South Korea and the Philippines. ₹1,000 per PCC.
Embassy countries
MEA attestation + embassy
For the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, China and Thailand. Priced on quote. See PCC attestation.
We say "usually" because practice can shift. Goa, for example, changed its pre-authentication rules for apostille in August 2026. If anything changes for your certificate, we tell you before you pay.
Destinations that ask for the passport office PCC
Some countries do not just prefer this type. They name it.
| Destination | What it asks for | Apostille? |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines | The Philippine Embassy in New Delhi lists a Regional Passport Office police clearance, authenticated, for 9F student, 9G employment and 47(a)(2) visas | Yes, MEA apostille |
| New Zealand | Since 1 December 2025, Immigration New Zealand accepts only RPO-issued PCCs from Indians living in India. Police station and SP certificates are refused. | No. Submit it as issued. |
New Zealand is a good example of where you should not pay for an apostille at all. The same goes for Canada, Australia, the UK and the USA. Our apostille vs attestation guide lists these.
What to send us
- The original passport office PCC
- A clear copy of your passport (front and back pages)
- The destination country
- The visa, university or employer checklist, if you have one
Delhi clients can drop the PCC at our New Ashok Nagar office and collect it there. From any other city, courier it to us. We return it by Blue Dart or another secure courier with a tracking number. We give you a time estimate with the price, before you send anything.
Questions about passport office PCC apostille
I got my PCC at a Post Office Passport Seva Kendra. Is it a passport office PCC?
Yes. A POPSK is a Passport Seva counter. The certificate is issued by the Regional Passport Office for your area, so it follows the direct MEA route.
My PCC names Portugal, but I am now applying to Croatia. Can it still be apostilled?
The MEA can apostille it, but the Croatian side may not accept a certificate that names another country. Ask them first. If they agree, we go ahead.
Does a passport office PCC ever need Notary + SDM?
In usual practice, no. If a particular checklist asks for an extra step, we read it and tell you before starting. The ₹1,500 Notary + SDM route is mainly for police-issued certificates.
Can my family in India send the PCC while I am abroad?
Yes, as long as the original passport office PCC is in India. Anyone can courier it to us with a copy of your passport and the country name. We return it to whichever address you give.
I need my PCC for New Zealand. Do I need an apostille?
No. New Zealand wants the RPO PCC itself, as issued. Do not spend money on an apostille for it.
Is the apostille fixed to my PCC or to a copy?
To the original PCC. That is why we need the original and send it back once the MEA has finished.